H.R. 1272, Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018

Summary

H.R. 1272 would make federal information about investigations of unsolved civil rights cases more readily available to the public. The bill would authorize the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to create a collection of unsolved civil rights cases. In addition, the legislation would establish a Civil Rights Cold Case Review Board (Review Board) to determine which records can be released to the public.

CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1272 would cost $9 million over the 2019-2023 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 1272 could affect direct spending by agencies that are authorized to use receipts from the sale of goods, fees, and other collections to cover operating costs; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Because most agencies can adjust the amounts collected as operating costs change, CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible. In addition, NARA can charge and spend fees to cover some or all of its costs to process certain requests. CBO estimates, however, that any net increase in fees collected under the bill would be negligible. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1272 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.

H.R. 1272 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.